The 2016 Chicago Fire season was the club's 18th year of existence, as well as their 19th season in Major League Soccer and their 19th consecutive year in the top-flight of American soccer.
On November 24, 2015 Veljko Paunović, coach of the 2015 World Cup champions Serbia U-20 team, was announced as the Chicago Fire's new head coach.
Chicago Fire began the regular season on March 6, 2016, with a home match against New York City FC. The Men in Red finished the regular season on October 23, 2016, with an away match against Toronto FC. The club has missed the playoffs for the sixth time in the past seven years.
The loss on the road to Vancouver Whitecaps on May 11, 2016, was the Fire's 28th straight match (19L, 9T) without a road win. This surpassed the New York Red Bulls for the longest road winless streak in MLS history. With the away loss to Real Salt Lake on August 6, 2016, the streak extended to 36 matches (27L, 9T). The two-years and 28 days long streak finally ended when the Fire defeated Montreal Impact, 3–0, on the road on August 20, 2016. It was the first victory away from home since the Fire beat the New England Revolution, 1–0, in Foxborough, MA on July 12, 2014.
Chicago Fire became the first team in MLS history to finish last in the overall table two years in a row.
Squad at the end of the season As of October 23, 2016. Source: Chicago Fire official roster
No. Name Nationality Position Date of birth (Aged) Previous club Goalkeepers 23 Patrick McLain GK Sacramento Republic FC 25 Sean Johnson GK Atlanta Blackhawks 28 Matt Lampson GK Columbus Crew Defenders 3 Brandon Vincent D Stanford Cardinal 4 Johan Kappelhof D FC Groningen 5 Michael Harrington D Colorado Rapids 6 Eric Gehrig D Columbus Crew SC 13 Rodrigo Ramos D Coritiba 16 Jonathan Campbell D North Carolina Tar Heels 22 Patrick Doody D Indiana Hoosiers 66 João Meira D/M Belenenses Midfielders 2 Matt Polster M SIU Edwardsville Cougars 7 John Goossens M FC Voluntari 12 Arturo Álvarez M Videoton FC 15 Joey Calistri M Northwestern Wildcats 17 Collin Fernandez M Chicago Fire Juniors 18 Drew Conner M Wisconsin Badgers 19 Khaly Thiam M MTK Budapest 21 Nick LaBrocca M Colorado Rapids 26 Michael Stephens M Stabæk 29 Alex Morrell M North Florida Ospreys 30 Răzvan Cociș M FC Hoverla Uzhhorod Forwards 8 Michael de Leeuw F FC Groningen9 Luis Solignac F Colorado Rapids 10 David Arshakyan F FK Trakai 11 David Accam F/M Helsingborgs IF
Player movement
In Per Major League Soccer and club policies terms of the deals do not get disclosed. DatePlayerPositionPrevious clubNotesRef November 30, 2015 Matt Polster M Chicago Fire Exercised option November 30, 2015 Patrick Doody D Chicago Fire Exercised option December 17, 2015 Joey Calistri F Chicago Fire Academy Signed as a Homegrown Player December 17, 2015 Drew Conner M Chicago Fire Academy Signed as a Homegrown Player January 14, 2016 Brandon Vincent D Stanford University Drafted 4th overall (first round) in 2016 MLS SuperDraft, already signed contract with MLS January 14, 2016 Jonathan Campbell D University of North Carolina Drafted 12th overall (first round) in 2016 MLS SuperDraft, already signed contract with MLS January 18, 2016 Michael Harrington D Colorado Rapids Signed as a free agent January 18, 2016 Patrick McLain GK Sacramento Republic FC Signed as a free agent January 23, 2016 Răzvan Cociș M Chicago Fire Re-signed with the club, after initially having his contract option declined; signed one-year deal with one year club option January 23, 2016 João Meira D Belenenses Signed as a free agent, one-year deal with one year club option January 27, 2016 Nick LaBrocca M Colorado Rapids Signed as a free agent, one-year deal with one year club option February 2, 2016 Johan Kappelhof D FC Groningen Signed as a discovery signing using targeted allocation money February 26, 2016 Matt Lampson GK Columbus Crew Signed as a free agent after trial, one-year deal with one year club option February 29, 2016 John Goossens M FC Voluntari Signed after a trial, two-year deal with one year club option March 3, 2016 Arturo Álvarez M Videoton FC Signed after a trial, one-year deal with one year club option March 11, 2016 Alex Morrell M North Florida Ospreys Signed to a one-year deal with three-year club option, after being selected 22nd overall (second round) in 2016 MLS SuperDraft May 17, 2016 Michael de Leeuw F FC Groningen Signed as a discovery signing using targeted allocation money for a three-year deal through 2018 with a club option for 2019 August 3, 2016 David Arshakyan F FK Trakai Signed as a Special Discovery Player, two-year deal with options for the third and fourth years August 3, 2016 Luis Solignac F Colorado Rapids Acquired in exchange for General Allocation Money
Out DatePlayerPositionDestination ClubNotesRef November 30, 2015 Adaílton D Miami FC 2016 contract option was declined, signed with Miami FC as a free agent on February 9 November 30, 2015 Jon Busch GK Indy Eleven 2016 contract option was declined, signed with Indy Eleven as a free agent on January 22 November 30, 2015 Greg Cochrane D San Antonio FC 2016 contract option was declined, signed with San Antonio FC as a free agent on February 25 November 30, 2015 Jason Johnson F San Antonio FC 2016 contract option was declined, signed with San Antonio FC as a free agent on February 16 November 30, 2015 Alec Kann GK Sporting Kansas City 2016 contract option was declined, selected by Sporting Kansas City in the Re-Entry Draft November 30, 2015 Jeff Larentowicz D LA Galaxy 2016 contract option was declined, signed with LA Galaxy as a free agent on January 6 November 30, 2015 Lovel Palmer D Indy Eleven 2016 contract option was declined, signed with Indy Eleven on January 12 November 30, 2015 Chris Ritter M None 2016 contract option was declined November 30, 2015 Daneil Cyrus D W Connection Loan deal expired November 30, 2015 Ty Harden D None Out of contract, eligible for free agency November 30, 2015 Mike Magee F LA Galaxy Out of contract, signed with LA Galaxy as a free agent on January 14 November 30, 2015 Matt Watson M Carolina RailHawks Out of contract, signed with Carolina RailHawks as a free agent on January 15 January 6, 2016 Patrick Nyarko F D.C. United Traded for second round pick in 2016 MLS SuperDraft January 14, 2016 Joevin Jones D Seattle Sounders FC Traded in exchange for first round pick in 2016 MLS SuperDraft and allocation money February 13, 2016 Harry Shipp M Montreal Impact Traded for general allocation money and targeted allocation money, after initially having his option exercised on November 30, 2015 March 2, 2016 Kingsley Bryce M None Waived, after initially having his option exercised on November 30, 2015 June 29, 2016 Gilberto F São Paulo FC Mutual termination of contract; signed with São Paulo FC on July 15 July 29, 2016 Kennedy Igboananike F D.C. United Traded for Targeted Allocation Money and the natural third round pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft Players selected in 2016 MLS SuperDraft, but ultimately not signed: midfielder Jack Harrison (1st overall, first round, from Wake Forest University) - traded to New York City FC, midfielder Vincent Mitchell (62nd overall, fourth round, from Butler University) and defender/midfielder Vincent Keller (57th overall, third round, from Creighton University). Trialists released in the preseason: defender James Musa, midfielder Parker Maher (Saint Louis FC), goalkeeper Zach Bennett (winner of the Open Tryout), defender Benedikt Krug, defender Mauricio Pineda (Chicago Fire Academy), goalkeeper Callum Irving, goalkeeper Matt Bersano and midfielder Christian Volesky.
Loans Per Major League Soccer and club policies terms of the deals do not get disclosed.
In DatePlayerPositionLoaned fromNotesRef February 3, 2016 Rodrigo Ramos D Coritiba Acquired as a Discovery Signing on a one-year loan May 4, 2016 Khaly Thiam M MTK Budapest Acquired on loan through the end of 2016
Technical staff
Standings
Eastern Conference table
Overall table
Results summary
Results
Match results
Preseason Kickoff times are in CST (UTC-06)
Simple Invitational Team1 Chicago Fire330092+792 Vancouver Whitecaps FC321074+363 Portland Timbers312044034 Minnesota United FC3030111-100
Major League Soccer
Kickoff times are in CDT (UTC-05), unless posted otherwise
U.S. Open Cup
The Chicago Fire entered the 2016 U.S. Open Cup with the rest of Major League Soccer in the fourth round. Kickoff times are in CDT (UTC-05)
Stats
Leading scorers
+MLS Regular SeasonRankScorerGoalsAssists1 David Accam952 Michael de Leeuw733 Arturo Álvarez594 Răzvan Cociș525 Kennedy Igboananike416 John Goossens347 Matt Polster228 Luis Solignac209 Joey Calistri11 Jonathan Campbell1111 Khaly Thiam1012 Rodrigo Ramos03 Brandon Vincent0313 Gilberto02 Michael Stephens0216 Michael Harrington01 Nick LaBrocca01 João Meira01
+U.S. Open CupRankScorerGoalsAssists1 David Accam512 Michael de Leeuw113 Khaly Thiam104 John Goossens01 Rodrigo Ramos01 Nick LaBrocca01
+All CompetitionsRankScorerGoalsAssists1 David Accam1452 Arturo Álvarez553 Michael de Leeuw444 Kennedy Igboananike41 Răzvan Cociș416 John Goossens247 Matt Polster218 Khaly Thiam209 Joey Calistri1110 Jonathan Campbell10 Luis Solignac1012 Rodrigo Ramos0413 Gilberto02 Michael Stephens02 Nick LaBrocca02 Brandon Vincent0217 João Meira01 Michael Harrington01
Italics indicate player who departed the club during the season. Updated to match played on October 23, 2016.Source: MLSsoccer.com statistics - 2016 Chicago Fire
Appearances and goals
|colspan="14"|Players currently out on loan with another club: (Statistics shown are the appearances made and goals scored while at Chicago Fire)
|colspan="14"|Players who left the club during the season: (Statistics shown are the appearances made and goals scored while at Chicago Fire)
Goalkeeper stats PlayerTotalMajor League SoccerU.S. Open Cup 23Patrick McLain00000.00000000.00000000.00025Sean Johnson22221980371.68622221980371.68600000.000 28Matt Lampson15151380221.4341111990181.6414439040.923 Source: Chicago Fire goalkeeper stats
National team participation Four Fire players have been called up to play for their senior national teams during this season.
PlayersTeamCompetitionOpponentDateGoalsMinutesRef Brandon Vincent Friendly February 5, 2016 0 45' Matt Polster Friendly February 5, 2016 0 unused sub David Accam 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification March 24, 2016 0 0' (injury) David Accam 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification March 27, 2016 0 0' (injury) David Arshakyan Friendly August 31, 2016 0 unused sub David Accam 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification September 3, 2016 0 Earned a start David Arshakyan 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification September 4, 2016 0 70' David Accam Friendly September 6, 2016 0 12'
Recognition MLS Goal of the Week Week Player Report24 Luis SolignacGOTW
MLS Team of the Week WeekPlayerPositionReport5 Johan KappelhofDReport17 Rodrigo RamosDReport24 David AccamFReport26 Sean JohnsonGKReport João MeiraD Michael de LeeuwF
MLS All-Star Game Position Player ReportDefender Brandon VincentReport
MLS 24 under 24 Chicago Fire midfielder Matt Polster was selected to Major League Soccer's "24 under 24" list, an annual ranking of the top players in the league under the age of 24.
Team annual awards Forward/midfielder David Accam was named the team's Most Valuable Player and Golden Boot winner for the second year in a row in both categories. In 24 league matches Accam scored nine goals and had five assists. Accam also had team-high 14 goals across all competitions of the season.
In his first year with the club Johan Kappelhof was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Tied with Jonathan Campbell for a team-high 33 league appearances, Kappelhof made 85 clearances, 17 blocks and 113 interceptions during his first MLS campaign.
Goalkeeper Sean Johnson was chosen Section 8 Chicago Supporters' Player of the Year.
Kits